Fox says we are 11th best team, but that's nice...

[Yuma]

The Shaq-for-Shawn Marion deal decelerated the team's offense and accelerated the franchise's decline. With Shaq, Grant Hill and Steve Nash at the tail end of their careers, Phoenix needs big seasons from Amare Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa to remain among the NBA's elite.

Wow! No mention of Barnes playing well. Our rebounding is way better than ever. The defense, while a work in progress, is showing flashes. Our bench is arguably better with Hill, Barbosa, Diaw, etc., coming off the bench. Shaq looks a LOT younger than he did last season. Bell, Diaw, Barbosa, etc., haven't even been playing well for us yet. I think we have more upside than what Fox says. Not being a homer, but just from objectively watching the three games so far this season.

 

[nashman]

Let them keep saying this all season for all I care! maybe the suns like not being expected to win it all lots less pressure to perform.

 

[mojorizen7]

I like the way Diaw's played thus far.
IMO Bell is the guy looking old and ineffective.
I am also pleasantly surprised at how well Barbosa has played some defense despite missing training camp. He's still a sieve but he's shown me something at least.

 

[Chaplin]

I like the way Diaw's played thus far.
IMO Bell is the guy looking old and ineffective.
I am also pleasantly surprised at how well Barbosa has played some defense despite missing training camp. He's still a sieve but he's shown me something at least.

Huh? Barbosa has been awful all around. I don't blame it on him, I think he's still dealing with his mom issues. I feel pretty sad for the kid. He hasn't even been good doing the things we know he can do.

As for Bell, he was arguably one of the top 3 players in last night's game, so I'm not sure how you can say Raja is ineffective. Why don't you wait 5 games before making such a proclamation?

 

[Yuma]

I like the way Diaw's played thus far.
IMO Bell is the guy looking old and ineffective.
I am also pleasantly surprised at how well Barbosa has played some defense despite missing training camp. He's still a sieve but he's shown me something at least.

It's Babosa's offense that has looked horrible. I HOPE it's just rust. I do have to say Diaw's offense has looked good, but his defense is lacking, imho. Bell does look like he's way off this season on both ends of the court.

 

[mojorizen7]

Huh? Barbosa has been awful all around. I don't blame it on him, I think he's still dealing with his mom issues. I feel pretty sad for the kid. He hasn't even been good doing the things we know he can do.

As for Bell, he was arguably one of the top 3 players in last night's game, so I'm not sure how you can say Raja is ineffective. Why don't you wait 5 games before making such a proclamation?

I have to disagree with Barbosa being awful so far. Watch him on the defensive end & he's shown some improvement there(moving his feet better etc..).
As for Bell, i don't know, maybe i'm expecting more offense from the guy. I mean among our starting 5 he's supposed to be the guy to knock down the 3 ball for us and thus far(much like early last season)he's been unable to get open & throwing up bricks when he does. Barnes has outplayed Bell thus far all-around.
Um...why do i have to wait 5 games to give my opinion on how these guys have performed in my eyes thus far?

 

[TJ]

Barbosa has other things on his mind right now, which is probably getting in the way of his decision making.

 

[dodie53]

i think it's better if no one is expecting so much from the Suns.

 

[Chaplin]

I have to disagree with Barbosa being awful so far. Watch him on the defensive end & he's shown some improvement there(moving his feet better etc..).
As for Bell, i don't know, maybe i'm expecting more offense from the guy. I mean among our starting 5 he's supposed to be the guy to knock down the 3 ball for us and thus far(much like early last season)he's been unable to get open & throwing up bricks when he does. Barnes has outplayed Bell thus far all-around.
Um...why do i have to wait 5 games to give my opinion on how these guys have performed in my eyes thus far?

I can't answer that question because it's absurd. I'm not sure what was so bad about Raja last night. He literally suffocated Brandon Roy on defense and then hit some timely shots on offense. In the Hornets game, he had a stretch in the 3rd quarter where he couldn't be stopped. So in that case, he was good for a game and a half and bad for a game and a half. That doesn't mean he sucks. Barbosa has been FAR worse through 3 games.

And nobody is saying that Barnes isn't better--you are just saying that give yourself some reasoning for your argument. Barnes absolutely has been better, but your analysis of Bell just doesn't hold up after only 3 games.

 

[mojorizen7]

I can't answer that question because it's absurd. I'm not sure what was so bad about Raja last night. He literally suffocated Brandon Roy on defense and then hit some timely shots on offense. In the Hornets game, he had a stretch in the 3rd quarter where he couldn't be stopped. So in that case, he was good for a game and a half and bad for a game and a half. That doesn't mean he sucks. Barbosa has been FAR worse through 3 games.

And nobody is saying that Barnes isn't better--you are just saying that give yourself some reasoning for your argument. Barnes absolutely has been better, but your analysis of Bell just doesn't hold up after only 3 games.

What?
I said:

IMO Bell is the guy looking old and ineffective.

You said:

I'm not sure how you can say Raja is ineffective. Why don't you wait 5 games before making such a proclamation?

I said:

why do i have to wait 5 games to give my opinion on how these guys have performed in my eyes thus far?

You said:

I can't answer that question because it's absurd.

Again...what?
I mentioned Barnes to give you a guage of what my definition of playing well vs playing poorly is. I could have just as easily named Grant Hill(who's also playing well) instead of Matt Barnes.
I just took the time to look up Bell's numbers thus far and i'll admit i was shocked to see that he's at 48% FG and 44%3ptFG. Pretty good numbers, I guess my expectations of our starting 2 are just too high.

It sounds to me like you've got a stick up your ass tonight....good luck with that....but remember.....

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[KidPhoenix]

These are the preseason rankings. The 1st actual week of rankings should be coming out tommorow.